Actually,
those comments are the very reason we do these articles, so we’d love to hear
them. Round-up/historical articles like these are a heckuva lot of fun to
write, and it’s even more fun to hear the reactions and read the comments. If
the response to the Speakers article was any indication, this one should spark
some lively debate of its own.

We cover everything from vintage two-channel to the more recent multi-channel surround AV receivers. We discuss the evolution from tubes to transistors, power ratings and the FTC, social, economic, and demographic changes that have occurred in America since the 1960’s and how this has impacted the receiver market.

So,
in rough chronological order from oldest to newest, here are our picks for the
10 (or so) most memorable receivers of the last 50 years:

Two-Channel
Simplicity: The Good Old Days

Fisher
500-T

The
Fisher 500-T receiver from around 1965-ish was a hugely important unit in the
evolution of American hi-fi. Fisher and H.H. Scott were the two most prominent
U.S. manufacturers of mainstream electronics and the 500-T was Fisher’s first
all-transistor unit. Early transistor models used germanium transistors, before
superior silicon parts were available. Germanium transistors had narrower
bandwidth, less gain and were not particularly reliable, giving the first transistor
units a somewhat shaky reputation for inferior sound and questionable quality.

Of
particular interest is this ad’s headline, boasting that it’s a “90-Watt”
receiver. 90 watts how? Per channel? 45 per channel, so 90 watts total? At what
level of distortion? Over what bandwidth? Both channels driven simultaneously
or only a single channel driven?

This is how it was done in those days:Let the buyer
beware!

Way
back in the ’60 s and early ’70 s, before the FTC stepped in (1974) and made
all the stereo manufacturers clean up their deceptive advertised wattage
ratings, companies would use all kinds of ratings.

In 1974, FTC stepped in to make stereo manufacturers clean up their deceptive wattage ratings.

There
was Continuous or RMS, but since this was the smallest, least-impressive
number, it was always listed last, in small print, if listed at all.

Double
the RMS was “Dynamic” or “Peak” or “Music” power—the rationale being that an
amplifier could likely deliver about double its continuous rating on a
temporary peak in the music.

Double that was
a really bogus number called “IPP” or Instantaneous Peak Power. The flimsy
rationale was that an amplifier—if it had enough of a power supply—could
probably muster about double its Peak power for the briefest of instants, if it
had the wind at its back and you completely disregarded the distortion.

So
a 30-watt/channel RMS stereo amplifier became a 60-watt/ch peak amp, which
became a 120-watt IPP amp. Adding together the two channels, manufacturers
would advertise, “240-watt Amplifier!” for a 30-per-side unit. Ugh.

In
1974, the FTC came in and mandated that audio amplifier power specifications
had to state RMS/continuous power first, in the largest type, and that it had
to be specified over what frequency bandwidth, at what THD distortion level,
and both channels had to be driven simultaneously. Furthermore, the FTC
mandated a warm-up or “preconditioning” period of an hour at 33% of rated power
at 1kHz before measurements were taken.

The
manufacturers hated this one, because 33% power is right in the heart of the
least efficient operating range for typical Class AB amplifiers (which all of
these were), and so the amps would run very hot during the preconditioning
period. That necessitated large, heavy heat sinks for new designs, or sometimes
a downgrade in power ratings for existing designs in order to meet the new
requirements. For example, Dynaco—a well-regarded manufacturer of
better-than-midgrade electronics—had to de-rate their popular SCA-80 integrated
amplifier from 40 watts RMS per channel to 30 watts RMS per channel, because
the unit ran too hot during the new FTC-mandated preconditioning period.

This
particular Fisher receiver—if you read all the fine print really
closely—eventually said that it was 28 watts RMS per channel, although it’s not
clear if a distortion level or frequency bandwidth was ever specified.

But
considered all on its own, the Fisher was a fine unit. 25 or 30 clean watts per
side would easily drive any normal speaker of the time to more-than-ample
loudness levels in the typical living room. It was an attractive, convenient,
easy-to-use piece. It ushered in the coming stereo market expansion and
deservedly takes its place among the industry’s most memorable receivers.

McIntosh
1900

McIntosh.
The “Macs.” The generally-acknowledged best electronics of their time
(apologies to Marantz separates fans), long before the Aragons and Brystons and
Audio Researches and Jeff Rolands, et al. came on the scene.

Mcintosh
1900 Receiver

They
were primarily a separates company but when they did finally come out with
their first receiver—the tube/solid state hybrid model 1500—it was a big event.
They followed that with the more solid state/less tube (tuner section only)
model 1700, but with the model 1900 in the early ’70s, “Mac” finally entered
the solid-state receiver market.

And
what a solid, well-built, beautiful, high-performance unit it was. You didn’t
judge Macs on a watts or features per-dollar basis. These were the Cadillacs of
their day and price was just not part of the equation. In 1972, a Ford Galaxy
500 would take you to the store to buy milk just as well as any luxury car, but
that’s not the point, is it?

At
a list price of around $950, it was probably twice as costly—if not more—than
similarly-spec’d receivers from mainstream companies, but the 1900 had an aura
of solid quality that nothing else could match. Mac watts were somehow cleaner,
more powerful, louder and more authoritative than those very pedestrian Kenwood
watts coming forth from their KR-6160 receiver. In high school as my interest
in stereo picked up steam, one of my classmates had (or I guess his Dad had) a
“high end” system consisting of a Mac 1900, AR-3a speakers and a Thorens
turntable with a separately purchased tonearm (probably an SME). The system
cost over $2,000—this was an extremely expensive system in the early 70’s, real
high-end. I remember he played the Isaac Hayes record “Shaft,” and the high-hat
strikes that began the title cut were so realistic and sharp, I didn’t think
anything could ever sound better. I was blown away. As a teen just getting into
audio, that was an impression that has lasted to this day.

McIntosh
electronics certainly had the cachet and their 1900 receiver did nothing to
sully that reputation. It was quite arguably the first “high end” receiver of
the modern equipment era, where the specs/price ratio was not as important as
the build quality, company reputation, and perceived sonic superiority.

Pioneer
SX-424 through SX-828 series

These
were the receivers that launched the stereo college revolution of the ’70s. The
line consisted of five models, from the SX-424 (15 wpc) to the SX-828 (50 wpc).
They were beautifully-made, beautiful-looking units, with silver faceplates,
wooden side panels, and heavily-weighted tuning flywheels that spun nicely from
one end of the tuning dial to the other. Since younger aficionados are only
acquainted with digital tuners, they’ve really missed out on one of the
greatest tactile/high-quality equipment sensations of the halcyon era of
stereo. (Another being the smoothly-damped, slow-opening cassette deck door—but
that’s another story for another time.)

Pioneer
was the standard-setter for mainstream receivers in that timeframe. Kenwood,
Sansui, Sherwood and others definitely had some great equipment also—the
budget-priced Sherwood S-7100A (20 wpc) being a particularly terrific value, a
truly gutsy, great-sounding receiver. But the Pioneers were the benchmark units
and their sales and marketing policies ensured they were the biggest sellers.

Vintage Pioneer Receiver

In
the ’70s, all those millions of Advents, EPIs, JBLs and ARs blasting out Allman
Brothers, the Who, Jimi and CSN&Y in beer-drenched, smoke-filled (never
mind what kind!) dorm rooms across the country had to be powered by something.
More often than not, they were made to sing by the clean, dependable,
abuse-resistant power of a Pioneer receiver.

The SX-424 thru 828 model series was made from
about 1971-1973. It was followed by the SX-434 series and then in 1976 by the
SX-450 series models, the latter with their strikingly-gorgeous soft gold
backlit tuning dial/power meter display area. Two of these later series units—one
each from the 30 and 50 families—were so significant to the history and
evolution of the high-fidelity industry that they’ll be called out on their own
a bit later.

But for now, let’s remember the Pioneer SX-424
thru 828—the receivers that powered so much of the music of the Baby Boomers’
college-aged youth. From Joni Mitchell to Miles Davis to Santana—Pioneer was
there.

Marantz
2230, 2245, 2270 series

No
matter how good the accepted standard-bearer is in any field, there’s always
something a cut above. Whatever it is, it has that something extra, a bit
unexpected, a little better than it has to be. A better affordable family sedan
than Toyota. A better chain restaurant than Olive Garden. The better ones exist
because the company feels their customers will appreciate it and pay a little
more for their product. Not too much more, but a little more and worth it.

Marantz 2270 Receiver

If
the Pioneers (and by implication, the Kenwoods, Sansuis, Sherwoods et al.) were
the benchmark for minimum-required excellence, then the Marantz 2200 series was
the line that represented a cut above.

What
distinctive and classy units they were. With their beautiful champagne-gold
faceplates, their elegant black script control labelling and that striking deep
blue tuning backlighting, the Marantz’s were certainly lookers.

But
their tuning knob—who could forget that tuning knob? While everyone else chased
the conventional spin-the-dial target, some brilliantly-inspired industrial
designer produced the horizontally-oriented thumb-actuated Marantz-only tuning
knob. With its black-knurled slip-resistant surface and heavily-weighted
expensive feel, the horizontal tuning knob ensured that the Marantz 2200-series
receivers were instantly recognizable and forever unforgettable, even to this
day.

You
didn’t see too many of these in random dorm rooms and fraternity house
bedrooms. While we have no specific empirical sales data from that period
showing the demographic distribution of its buyers, the strong suspicion here
is that Marantz was the receiver for “grown-ups,” and the others were mostly
for college kids. Whenever one did see or come across a 2230 or 2245 in
someone’s room, it elicited an involuntary—and well-deserved—chorus of “ooohs”
and “ahhhs.” No one ever ooohed and ahhhed over a Kenwood KR-5200. But a
Marantz 2245 or 2270? Well, that was different.

Now—another
tale of the Marantz 2270, and not a particularly flattering one. I went to
college in Boston and was a member of the nationally-known Boston Audio
Society, a group of enthusiasts who met monthly to discuss audio matters and
get presentations, factory tours and demonstrations of manufacturers’ latest
gear.

At
the time—the mid-1970s—the whole notion of “why did amplifiers sound different”
was really taking hold in audio circles. At a BAS meeting in the fall of 1975,
we got a presentation from a test equipment manufacturer (I forget who) who was
going to show us—prove to us—why some amplifiers sounded better than others.

They
used three popularly-priced receivers of about the same power output—a Pioneer,
an AR receiver, and a Marantz 2270. All three were rated at about 50-70 watts
RMS/channel into 8 ohms, within about 1.4 dBW of each other. In other words, no
real-life difference in loudness capability. I think the speakers for the
demonstration were Advents or ARs.

When
the receivers were pushed hard—to the edge of clipping, as we all watched on
the scope—they sounded markedly different. The Marantz was clearly the worst.

From an audibility standpoint, it wasn't just total THD but how that THD was constituted that mattered.

These
were the very early days of distortion spectrum analysis, and the presenter of
the test equipment was showing us how an amplifier whose THD products are comprised
of upper-order harmonics would sound much harsher and more strident than an
amplifier whose THD products were the more benign and musically-related
lower-order (2nd- and 3rd-order) harmonics. In other words,
it wasn’t just the “total” of THD, it was what that THD was constituted of that
really mattered.

We
saw on the scope that the Pioneer had a reasonable spectral distribution of
distortion products (a mix of lower- and upper-order distortion when pushed into
clipping); the AR receiver was almost entirely lower-order distortion (2nd-
and 3rd-order) and so its clipping was quite smooth-sounding and hardly
noticeable, but the 2270 was a complete mess when it ran out of steam—virtually
all 4th-, 5th- and 6th order distortion. Nails on the blackboard. (See
THD vs IMD distortion sidebar)

This
is not to denigrate the 2270, a well-built handsome powerhouse whose 70+ undistorted
watts per side were more than enough to get a set of Large Advents far louder
than any reasonably-sane college kid (or mature adult) could stand. It’s just
an interesting recollection that must be included for the sake of historical
accuracy and completeness.

About the author:

Steve Feinstein is a long-time consumer electronics professional, with extended tenures at Panasonic, Boston Acoustics and Atlantic Technology. He has authors historical and educational articles for us as well as occasional loudspeaker reviews.

Recent Forum Posts:

Johnny2Bad, post: 1214562, member: 4504522587I agree with another poster above who said Kenwood receivers were overlooked unfairly. Decent SQ and some of the world's best FM sections. An unfortunate oversight.

Most Classic Receivers, even budget models, with discrete radio sections, run rings around a modern AV Receiver with it's $10 radio-on-a-chip (and the same chip as all it's competitors) radio section. No comparison, really. Ponying up for a premium AV unit does not get you a “better” chip.

In the modern world the more advanced radio ICs are found in OEM autosound, which often perform better than their component AV counterpoints back in the listening room.

The best autosound can be found on pre-1990's OEM radios, but as in-car radio is seen as a priority versus as in the home, an afterthought, even the chips used in OEM radios cost significantly more than the AV Receiver's unit.

Agreed, Kenwood (Trio) should not be looked down upon. They had some very nice units. The Kenwood I'd love to have is the L-07D, one of the finest Turntables ever made. I almost got one last year but I dragged my feet and it was gone.

I also agree with your tuner comment. The tuner section (if you can even call it that) in AVRs is an afterthought (just like their phono sections). I remember the first time I heard the one in my Denon 3803 back in the early 2000's, the radio sounded terrible. If that's the only type of FM tuner a person has heard and then they listen to even a lowly classic receiver they'd be blown away at how good FM can sound.

Take it one step further and have them listen to a mid level separate old school Tuner like the Sansui TU-717 and their jaws will drop.

When I found my Sansui AU-X1 integrated it was in pristine condition and the original owner was also selling the matching TU-X1, by all accounts one of the best tuners EVER made. I passed on the tuner because I never listen to the radio but I sometimes regret it.

22587 My all-time favourite receiver was the Luxman R-1120 … 120WPC (measured higher) and an outstanding FM section, along with two decent MM phono inputs and also provision for two tape decks or processors.

Very rare, you see the smaller units on eBay (R-1070, decent, and R-1040, a budget model) for what I would consider to be high prices (often more than MSRP) and poor value, but the 1120 doesn't show up much.

One sold on canukaudiomart for $C 350 recently, a bargain.

If you've heard Mcintosh tuners / amps /preamps, you should have an idea of this units's Sound Quality, very similar overall.

Regardless of which vintage receiver you choose, they should be sent out for an alignment as the FM and AM sections will not be in proper tune after so long a time has passed.

I agree with another poster above who said Kenwood receivers were overlooked unfairly. Decent SQ and some of the world's best FM sections. An unfortunate oversight.

Most Classic Receivers, even budget models, with discrete radio sections, run rings around a modern AV Receiver with it's $10 radio-on-a-chip (and the same chip as all it's competitors) radio section. No comparison, really. Ponying up for a premium AV unit does not get you a “better” chip.

In the modern world the more advanced radio ICs are found in OEM autosound, which often perform better than their component AV counterpoints back in the listening room.

The best autosound can be found on pre-1990's OEM radios, but as in-car radio is seen as a priority versus as in the home, an afterthought, even the chips used in OEM radios cost significantly more than the AV Receiver's unit.

Pogre posts on October 07, 2017 10:07

Alex2507, post: 1072458, member: 22358My introduction to rec'rs was pretty H/K-centric. That didn't stop me from enjoying the article one bit and I'll end up going back to it to better fill out my understanding.

I think I had one of the Pioneers. Maybe a 626? That was before things got out of hand. I think I sold it for 100 bucks worth of meat. It currently handles background music duty in a butcher shop. Rock solid FM tuner on that thing. I have to check old posts or go buy some meat to verify the model.

I'm currently using a couple of Yammies and but yearn for one particular Denon that's still a little to expensive for me. So even though I haven't owned a Denon, they still get the vote.

Those B&K rec'rs though …

A butcher shop? I was one of those pricks that wouldn't allow it in my shop. I had a crew of 10 and nobody liked the same music and fewer liked mine. Corporate didn't like it either tho and we were having trouble hearing pages so I decided it wasn't worth the aggravation.

<eargiant posts on October 07, 2017 09:48

My write-in vote goes to the Sansui G Series receivers.

This is my Sansui G-7700 that I purchased brand new in 1980 at the time when FM radio and vinyl reigned. The first thing I'd do everyday when I got home from school was listen to music. This unit brought me more enjoyment than I can put to words.

37 years later, I am still deep into this hobby.

M Code posts on October 06, 2017 10:16

Panasonic products typically they had excellent AM/FM tuner circuits, also the analog dial type were better than some of the digital electronic tuners.